Molded decorative accessories for jack-o&#39;-lanterns

ABSTRACT

The specification discloses a jack-o-lantern made of a pumpkin wherein the eyes, nose, ears, mouth and other decorative features are formed of molded flexible plastics material and are provided with means for providing attachment to a pumpkin to mound such decorative features thereon.

July 2, 1974 J. J. SMOLEN 3,822,170

MOLDED DECORATIVE ACCESSORIES FOR JACK-O-LAN'I ERNS Filed April 25, 1973 N zfomu J J/770/6f7 j i I NI ENTOR lume! Willow & MaMewA ATTORNE YS nitcd States Patent Oiiice 3,822,170 Patented July 2, 1974 3,822,170 MOLDED DECORATIVE ACCESSORIES FOR JACK-O-LANTERNS James J. Smolen, 6035 Yarwell, Houston, Tex. 77035 Continuation-impart of abandoned application Ser. No.

113,137, Feb. 8, 1971. This application Apr. 25, 1973,

Ser.'N0. 354,367

Int. Cl. A47g 35/00 US. Cl. 161-12 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The specification discloses a jack-o-lantern made of a pumpkin wherein the eyes, nose, ears, mouth and other decorative features are formed of molded flexible plastics material and are provided with means for providing attachment to a pumpkin to mount such decorative features thereon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 113,137 filed Feb. 8, 1971, now abandoned.

(1) Field of the Invention The present invention pertains to molded decorative facial features such as eyes, nose, mouth and ears and means for attaching or mounting such features to a pumpkin to form a jack-o-lantern.

(2) Description of the Prior Art The prior art jack-o-lanterns were formed from pumpkins and were traditionally made by cutting holes or openings in the pumpkin shell to form facial features such as eyes, nose and mouth. However, cutting into the pumpkin permitted mold and bacteria-laden air to enter the pumpkin shell, accelerating the deterioration of the shell and thereby shortening the useful life of the jacko-1antern and also rendering the pumpkin inedible after use of the jack-o-lantern.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention pertains to accessories for jacko-lantern type decorative devices formed from a pumpkin or the like wherein a variety of decorative facial features, such as eyes, nose, mouth, and ears are formed of a soft, flexible molded plastics material or compound and are provided with apertures formed therein for passage of means for mounting such accessories to a pumpkin in order to form a decorative jack-o-lantern.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a pumpkin bearing accessories according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the pumpkin of FIG. 1 bearing accessories accordingto the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view, showing means for attaching the molded accessories to the shell of the pumpkin.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT the desired effect of the pumpkin decorative scheme-Le, humorous, comical, fearsome or ferocious or the like.

In the preferred embodiment, the nose accessory N comprises a pair of flared tubes 11 and 12, having enlarged open lower ends 13 and 14, respectively, simulating nostrils, and closed upper ends 15 and 16 which converge to form an inverted V-shaped nose accessory N.

The nose accessory N is preferably formed of a molded flexible plastics compound, such as a flexible thermoplastic resin, flexible thermoset resin, elastomer or copolymer resin-elastomer mixture compound, which yields so that the ear surface or backside thereof forms generally to the contour of the surface of the pumpkin P in order to facilitate use and mounting of the nose accessory N on pumpkins on various sizes and configurations. Moldable, flexible plastics compounds suitable for forming the nose accessory N and other accessories of the invention described more particularly hereafter are well known and their compositions, methods of preparation, methods of molding and the like are specifically described in many texts, including Modern Plastics Encyclopedia, Vol. 47/ No. 10A (1970-1971) and Vol. 49/No. 10A (1972- 1973) published by McGraW-Hill, Inc., New York, N.Y., which are hereby incorporated by reference in full into this specification and claims. Examples of flexible thermoplastic resin compounds which may be used in the practice of the invention, as disclosed in these incorporated references, include compounds comprised of flexible vinyl resins, e.g. flexible polyvinyl chlorides, ethylene vinyl acetates, vinylidene chlorides, copolymers of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetates, and flexible polyolefin resins, such as polyethylenes, polypropylenes, and the like. Examples of suitable thermoset resin compounds are flexible urethane resin compounds (foamed and non foamed). Furthermore, examples of preferred elastomer compounds include compounds comprised of acrylonitriles, butadienes, and blends or copolymers of styrene-butadiene, acrylonitrile-butadiene, etc. Moreover, as is known in the art, the flexible moldable plastics compounds may contain any desirable amount of plasticizers, stabilizers, coloring materials (dyes or pigments), etc., which will provide molded accessories that are flexible and/or resilient and soft. Preferably, plastics compounds containing known types and amounts of colorants that will be translucent after molding are employed, for reasons set forth hereafter. The particular amounts of each material in the compounds of course affect the physical characteristics of the molded or formed products. However, mixing and formulating batches or mixtures of compounds which may be utilized to produce molded accessories of desired flexibility is well known to the skilled artisan and particular polymer formulations do not form a part of this invention.

The nose accessory N and other accessories of the invention described hereafter may be formed or molded into various configurations and shapes to achieve varying desired appearances for the jack-o-lantern, for example, humorous, comical, fearsome, ferocious and the like, by employing known molding procedures and apparatus. That is to say, the accessories may be formed or molded by injection, blow, thermoforming, slush, rotational and compression molding techniques and apparatus. The particular technique and type of apparatus utilized is, of course, dependent upon the desired flexible plastics compound employed for forming the accessories. The molding techniques and apparatus are well known in the art and are specifically described in the above-mentioned incorporated references.

Preferably, the accessories of the invention are formed by conventional blow, thermoforming or injection molding procedures employing commercially available flexible polymer compounds such as: LD-610, a low density polyethylene injection molding grade compound sold by Exxon Chemical Company; Rucoblend," a flexible polyvinyl chloride molding compound marketed by Hooker Chemical Corporation; and Kraton, a thermoplastic rubber molding compound marketed by Shell Chemical Company, to name a few.

A plurality of mounting rivets or pins 17, 18 and 19 are inserted through apertures formed in the tubes 11 and 12 and the juncture of the upper portions 15 and 16, respectively, to mount the nose accessory N to the shell of the pumpkin P. Mounting rivets or pins 17, 18 and 19 are preferably formed or molded of any conventional rigid plastics compound, such as phenolic, urea, melamine, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polyethylene, and like resin compounds by conventional molding procedures and apparatus. Suitable known rigid plastics compounds and molding techniques are specifically described in the above-mentioned incorporated references and are well known in the art.

Similar mountingrivets or pins or like structure to the mounting pins 17, to be set forth hereinbelow, are used to mount the mouth accessory M, the eye accessories E, the ear accessories R, the horn accessories H and the cap accessories C to the shell of the pumpkin P to achieve the desired appearance and form the jack-o-lantern. The mounting rivets can be mounted with the accessories so as not to detract from the appearance of the jack-olantern, or can be mounted so as to be visible, and be formed from a different color material than the accessories so as to enhance the appearance desired to be formed in the jack-o-lantern and can have a flat or contoured configuration as desired.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the mounting rivet 17 is illustrated passing through an aperture 11a formed in the tubular member 11 and an aperture 20b formed in the pumpkin shell P to mount the nose accessory N to the pumpkin shell P.

As shown, the mounting rivet 17 includes a curved or hemispherical head portion 17a and a cylindrical body portion 17b extending inwardly into the pumpkin shell P therefrom. A plurality of outwardly extending flanges or barbs 170 along the shank are of the cylindrical body portion 17b. Such barbs or flanges are embedded in the side of the pumpkin P to hold such rivet or pin 17 in place for anchoring the accessories to the pumpkin shell. One or more of the barbs 17c may penetrate the pumpkin shell P when the mounting rivet 17 has been inserted. The flange 17c prevents the rivet 17 from falling from the pumpkin P during inadvertent movement of the pumpkin, and thereby prevents the accessories from falling from the pumpkin P. A plurality of notches or grooves, as illustrated by a notch 17e, are formed in the cylindrical portion 17b of the rivet 17 to permit ease of insertion of the rivets when mounting the accessories to the pumpkin P by contracting the inner end of the rivet 17. After insertion of the rivet 17 into the nose accessory N, mounting the nose accessory N to the pumpkin shell P, the outer surface of the cylindrical portion 17b is engaging the sides of the aperture 11a and an aperture 20b formed in the pumpkin P between an inner surface 20a and an outer surface 20c thereof. The hemispherical head 17a and the outwardly extending flange 17c urge the flexible molded tubular member 11 and the pumpkin shell P into firm engagement, thereby permitting use of the accessories of the present invention with pumpkins of various sizes and configuration. The mounting of the nose accessory N and the other accessories of the present invention with the pumpkin P by the mounting rivets of the present invention prevents any substantial quantity of air from entering the pumpkin P and shortening the useful life thereof. An inner portion of the mounting rivet 17 has been removed to form a cavity 17 for reasons to be more evident hereinbelow.

The eye accessory E (FIG. 2) includes an upper eyelid 31. a lower eyelid 32 and eyeball 33. The upper eyelid 31 and the lower eyelid 32 may be of a like color to the orange color of the pumpkin P or may be of a different color to achieve the desired appearance of the jack-olantern. A triangular shaped pupil 3311, which may be painted on the eyeball 33 or be formed by cutting or molding a triangular shaped aperture into the eyeball 33, is formed with the eyeball 33. The eye accessory E is preferably hollow on the interior, with eyelids 31 and 32 and the eyeball being of a thickness of one-quarter inch, for example. The eye accessory E is mounted with the exterior of the pumpkin P by mounting rivets of like structure and function to the mounting rivet 17 set forth hereinabove.

Each of the ear accessories R are mounted on the sides of the pumpkin shell P by mounting rivets of like structure and function to the mounting rivet 17. The ear accessories R have rounded lobes 41, and pointed upper portions 42 in this embodiment of the present invention. Other shapes that are suitable may be imparted to the ear accessories R in order to achieve the desired appearance of the jack-o-lantern. The car accessories R may also be colored any desired color to achieve the desired appearance of the jack-o-lantern.

The mouth accessory M (FIGS. 1 and 2) includes an upper lip 51 and a lower lip 52 and a plurality of fang members 53 integrally formed. The mouth accessory M is mounted with the exterior surface of the pumpkin P by mounting rivets of like structure and function to the mounting rivet 17 previously set forth. The mouth accessory M may be formed or molded into other suitable con figurations, such as for example spaced open lips 51 and 52 with sharp teeth protruding therebetween, as in the prior art hand-carved jack-o-lanterns.

Desired, additional accessories, such as the horn accessories H and the cap or crown accessory C, or other suitable shapes or structures to achieve the desired appearance and effect of the jack-o-lantern may be mounted with the pumpkin P. Additional accessories are also preferably formed of a flexible molded plastics compound as previously set forth, and are mounted with the pumpkin P by mounting rivets of like structure and function to those previously set forth.

When the accessories of the present invention are used with a jack-o-lantern for indoor use, such accessories may be painted or otherwise colored any desired color to achieve the desired effect of the jack-o-lantern, whether humorous, comical, fearsome, ferocious or the like. When the jack-o-lantern is to be used at night time or in a dark place, a flashlight or candle may be placed in the hollow interior of the jack-o-lantern, and a plurality of apertures or openings (not shown) are formed in the pumpkin shell P adjacent the positions on the exterior of such pumpkin shell where the accessories of the present invention are mounted. Such apertures allow passage of the light from the candle or flashlight mounted within the interior of the pumpkin shell P. The flexible molded plastics compound from which the accessories are formed is in this embodiment translucent allowing the light from the light source within the pumpkin P to pass through such accessories and form an illuminated or glowing jacko-lantern for night time or other use of the jack-o-lantern in the dark. There are many plastics compounds or formulations known in the art which are flexible and translucent upon molding into an accessory or part as set forth in the above-mentioned incorporated references. Examples of a few of these compounds include resin formulations comprised of vinyls (polyvinyl chlorides, vinylidene chlorides, etc.) and polyolefins (polyethylenes, polypropylenes and the like).

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size, shape and materials as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. An accessory set for mounting with a pumpkin to form a jack-o-lantern with features for humorous, comical, fearsome, ferocious and like appearances, said accessory set comprising facial features formed from a soft, molded, flexible plastics material to conform to the contour of the pumpkin to which said accessory set is to be mounted, said accessory set further comprising:

(a) a nose feature in the form of a pair of tubes having enlarged open lower ends and adapted for mounting with the pumpkin to form a nose of said jack-olantern;

(b) an ear feature having rounded lobes and pointed upper portions and adapted for mounting with the pumpkin to form an ear of said jack-o-lantern;

(c) a mouth feature having an upper lip and a lower lip and adapted for mounting with the pumpkin to form a mouth of said jack-o-lantern;

(d) an eye feature having an upper eyelid, a lower eyelid and an eyeball with a pupil formed therein and adapted for mounting with the pumpkin to form an eye of said jack-o-lantern; and

(e) said features further having apertures formed therein for passage therethrough of a hollow mounting rivet or pin to mount said accessory to the pumpkin, wherein said features may be mounted to the pumpkin and attached thereto to form a jack-o lantern.

2. The article of claim 1, wherein the plastics material is a flexible translucent thermoplastic resin compound permeable to a light source mounted within the pumpkin, said compound permitting light to pass therethrough to allow visibility of the jack-o-lantern in the dark.

3. The article of claim 1, wherein said accessory set further includes:

a pair of curve horn features for mounting with the pumpkin to form horns on said jack-o-lantern. 4. The article of claim 1, wherein: the flexible plastics material of said features is colored to achieve the desired appearance of the jack-olantern.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1902 Herd 24016 6/ 1940 Buchner 4622 5/ 1955 Peterson 4622 7/1958 Keuls 4222 X 7/1962 Seron 46-22 FOREIGN PATENTS 5/1937 Great Britain 4622 25 WILLIAM E. SHULZ, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

